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University of Illinois Athletics

ILLINI BASE - Game 2 vs Northwestern - Will Johannes
3
Northwestern NU 20-27-1
4
Winner Illinois ILLINI 26-23
Northwestern NU
20-27-1
3
Final
4
Illinois ILLINI
26-23
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Northwestern NU 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3 6 0
Illinois ILLINI 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 9 1

W: Gannon, Reed (4-2) L: RIFENBURG, JAKE (2-6)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Johannes' Walkoff Home Run Sends Illinois Past Northwestern

RECAP

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini celebrated Senior Day with a 4-3 walkoff win over Northwestern at Illinois Field on Saturday night.

Will Johannes' walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth helped Illinois extend its winning streak to four games while improving to 26-23 overall and 12-14 in Big Ten play.

Aidan Flinn got the start, tossing five scoreless innings while striking out five, marking his third straight start with one run allowed or fewer.

Johannes went 3-for-4 with two extra-base hits, while J.R. Nelson recorded a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Four different Illini tallied an RBI in the win.

AJ Putty's two-out RBI double opened the scoring in the bottom of the first before Nelson and Nick Groves tallied RBI in the second to extend the Illini advantage to 3-0.

After Flinn retired the final nine batters he faced, the Wildcats accounted for the game's next three runs. With the sides knotted at 3-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Johannes connected on the third pitch he saw for the game-winning home run to right.

POSTGAME NOTES

  • Nick Groves went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
    • Has now reached safely in 11 straight games.
  • Jack Zebig went 1-for-3.
    • Has reached safely in 15 straight contests.
    • Has a hit in seven straight games.
  • Wil Johannes went 3-for-4 and delivered the walkoff home run.
    • Set a new career-high with three hits.
      • Registered his 12th multi-hit game of the season.
    • Hit his ninth home run of the year.
      • Was the Illini's second walkoff home run this season.
    • Scored multiple runs for the sixth time.
  • J.R. Nelson went 2-for-3 at the plate.
    • Has reached safely in nine straight games.
    • Posted his seventh multi-hit game of the season.
  • Aidan Flinn earned the start, going five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
    • Has tallied three straight starts with one run allowed or fewer.
    • Allowed only one hit for the second straight start.
      • Has allowed only two hits over his last two starts (12 total innings).
    • Secured at least five strikeouts for the fourth time this season.
      • Has at least four strikeouts in five straight starts.
  • The Illini recorded their fourth walkoff victory of the season and their third in Big Ten play.
  • Illinois honored nine seniors during its pregame Senior Day ceremony: Daniel Contreras, Mitch Dye, Nick Groves, Will Johannes, Richie LaCien, Liam McKillop, Sam Reed, Cole Warehime, and Jack Zebig.

UP NEXT

Illinois (26-23, 12-14 B1G) is set for its final home game of the 2026 season, with the series finale against Northwestern slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.

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